Two sisters sat the same exam years apart in a bid to get into highly competitive selective schools in Melbourne. One made it into her top school, the other learnt a valuable lesson – and then secured a spot in a school that was perfect for her.
Nearly 6000 students sat the selective entry school exam across Melbourne in June.
They were all vying for just 1000 spots in the 2026 intake for year 9 at just four schools: Nossal High School in Berwick, Suzanne Cory High School in Werribee, The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne and Melbourne High in South Yarra.
Sloka Kalyanam,13, found out she had been accepted into Suzanne Cory, and was thrilled after stressing about the results until she got her offer at the end of July.
“Immediately after the test, I wasn’t so sure how I went because I felt like I screwed up a lot of questions,” the teen said. “But as [time] it went on, I was really confident on some days and some days I was like, ‘no way am I getting in’.”
Sisters Sloka, 13, and Lasya Kalyanam, 16, with their tutor Sophia Ao, who helped them study ahead of exams.Credit: LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI
Of places offered to young people, at least 85 per cent are because of the exam performance, while up to 10 per cent consider equity conditions and exam performance. The final 5 per cent is up to the discretion of the principal if the cap for a school hasn’t been reached.
Sloka’s tip for those wanting to take the test: don’t start studying too early, noting she only started six months in advance.
“Try not to get distracted, focus on your weak points,” she said.
“You shouldn’t just memorise answers. You need to understand the content.”
The Werribee teen said she had spoken to her mum a lot about her mental health in the lead-up to finding out whether she was one of the thousand children to make it into one of the select-entry schools.
“Even if I didn’t get in, I tried my best, and I can always try out again the next year,” the 13-year-old said.
She explained if she hadn’t made it, she’d be disappointed.
“But I wouldn’t be that disappointed,” she said.
And some of that may be due to her older sister Lasya’s experience.
The now 16-year-old also sat the select entry exam in the years before, but she was unsuccessful in getting into one of the schools.
Tips for Selective School Exam Success
- Avoid distractions
- Start studying ahead of the exam, at least six months in advance
- Work to understand the content, not just memorise answers
- Focus on weak points of studies
- Sloka Kalyanam
That didn’t stop her, though.
“The next year, I tried out for John Monash Science School, and I got an offer there,” she said.
The specialist senior secondary school caters for students from year 10 only and has a strong focus on science and maths, as well as emerging technology.
The teenager hadn’t initially considered it after the select entry exams, and was disappointed she had missed out on her first choice.
“A few months later my mum showed me different schools, and showed me [John Monash Science School], and said it was more science orientated,” Lasya said.
Her mum encouraged her elder daughter to try for the school, knowing her interest in the sciences.
She had to undergo a series of written tests, and then short-listed students have to undertake a series of activities with a group as well as an individual interview.
The 16-year-old explained she had been able to put the study she did for the select entry exams to good use.
“I feel like I didn’t study that much for John Monash ... because I had a lot of previous knowledge from my selective tutoring days,” she said.
“I built on my science concepts a bit more. I did a few more math practice tests, and I felt like that was pretty good for me.”
Now she is thriving, and aiming for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Both sisters were tutored ahead of the select entry exams by Sophia Ao, who attended Mac.Robertson Girls High School and graduated in 2021.
Now in her fourth year of a double degree in law and commerce at Monash University, the high achiever is also studying a diploma of languages in Mandarin.
Ao is passionate about helping other young people get into a school system she credits with giving her a wealth of opportunities and experience.
Her advice for young children and families considering it is to give it a go, even if they might miss out.
“Many talented students do miss out each year … Regardless of the outcome, students learn a lot of study skills and build grit and resilience, which are very important for their development,” she said.
Her tips: give everything a go; practise is key; review your answers; and stay calm during the exam.
“I also struggled with exam anxiety for a long time, but you can think so much more clearly when you are calm. Before the exam, take some deep breaths and just go in with the goal to do your best – that’s all you can do,” she said.
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